Qatar Museums has announced that it is facilitating tours to the nesting grounds of Hawksbill turtles located in Fuwairit Beach this hatching season.

In her social media accounts, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, Doha Film Institute and Reach Out to Asia, said ‘the visits will be held from July to August, on Thursdays to Tuesdays between 6 pm and 8 pm.’

However, the visits will be open for Cultural Pass members only. For those who are not members yet, join for free via this link. Culture Pass membership provides its members with the unique opportunity of becoming a museum insider with exclusive and behind the scenes access to tours, talks, and workshops.

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بدأ موسم تكاثر السلاحف البحرية صقرية المنقار، يسعدنا ان نوفر لأعضاء “بطاقتك إلى الثقافة” فرصة زيارة أعشاش السلاحف في فويرط في شهري يوليو وأغسطس،من الخميس إلى الثلاثاء ٦ إلى ٨ مساءً. . لستم أعضاء بطاقتك إلى الثقافة؟ لازال يمكنكم المشاركة بالتسجيل مجاناً في الرابط بالبايو. لاتفوتوا فرصة مشاهدة صغار السلاحف وهي تشق طريقها للحياة. You asked – we delivered! The Hawksbill turtle hatching season is here, and we are happy to facilitate visits to our Culture Pass members to participate in visiting the nesting grounds located in Fuwairit for the month of July and August, on Thursday to Tuesdays between 6pm-8pm. Not a Culture Pass member yet? Dont worry, you can join for free click on the link on bio. Don’t miss your opportunity to watch these littles ones make their way into the world!

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Hawksbills are considered critically endangered mostly due to human impact, according to the National Geographic. Their eggs are still eaten around the world despite the turtle’s international protected status, and they are often killed for their flesh and shells. Hawksbills are also threatened by accidental capture in fishing nets or even consumption of plastic waste.

In 2018, the Ministry of Municipalities and Environment, represented by the Environmental Protection Reserves and Wildlife Department, announced a temporary closure of Fuwairit Beach to start working on the project of protecting the endangered hawksbill sea turtle. The closure was in line with the framework of efforts to preserve wildlife and in accordance with Ministerial Resolution No 37 of 2010 on the conservation of turtles and seabirds.

 

According to AFAR.com, at least 100 hawksbill turtles nest annually at Fuwairit, Ras Laffan, Halul island and other seaside areas outside of Doha. These critically endangered species come to Qatar to nest between April and July. For more information and updates, check out the Facebook page Qatar Turtlewatch or contact http://www.entalek.org/  

Turtle tagging Halul Island Shafeeq Hamza
Turtle tagging at Halul Island (Photo credit: Shafeeq Hamza)

Last year,  the Environmental Science Center (ESC) at Qatar University started implementing the Qatar Turtle Project to help protect Hawksbill turtles through funding provided by Qatar Petroleum. The project is a top-priority project led by ESC Director Dr Hamad Al Saad Al Kuwari, with a specialist team and technicians. Since 2002, Qatar Petroleum and Qatar University have been studying Hawksbill turtles along the Qatari coastline and working to restore the turtle population and their habitat.